Dambulla Nuwaragala Kanda Maligathenna Ruins (නුවරගල කන්ද මාලිගාතැන්න නටබුණ්)

There are several locations named Nuwaragala Kanda (Nuwaragalakanda, Nuwaragalkanda), with the most well-known Nuwaragala Kanda being in the Ampara District. However, this particular Nuwaragala Kanda is located east of Dambulla amidst thick jungle on the border of the Matale and Polonnaruwa districts.

According to folklore, there is an ancient palace complex spread over an area called Maligathenna, covering approximately 40 acres. It is believed that this palace was built by King Mahasen (276-303 AD). The ruins were initially discovered and documented in 1884 by the Governor of Matale at the time, but no formal research or excavations have been conducted on these ruins, aside from activities by treasure hunters.

This palace is believed to have been built by King Mahasen (276-303 AD) as a sub-palace while he was overseeing the construction of numerous irrigation tanks in the area. It is also associated with Queen Sugaladevi, who fought King Parakramabahu the Great in the 12th century. However, there is also a possibility that these ruins may be those of a long-forgotten ancient Buddhist monastery.

The Nuwaragalkanda archaeological site is situated approximately 16 km east of the city of Dambulla, within a low mountain range that extends north to south through the Nuwaragalkanda area. The site features large and small buildings, as well as irrigation facilities, constructed along a dried-up stream between the main vein and the branch ridge.

The GPS measurements for reservoir A are latitude 07 degrees 50 minutes 12 seconds north and longitude 80 degrees 48 minutes 00 seconds east. The ruins of Bisokotuwa (point G) are located at latitude 07 degrees 51 minutes 42 seconds north and longitude 80 degrees 47 minutes 35 seconds east.

Most of these ruins are situated in elephant-infested thick jungles that have never been fully explored, except by treasure hunters. However, a detailed report written in Japanese by a Japanese archaeology team that visited these sites in 2011 provides valuable information about them. Below is a summary based on this report:

The archaeological remains of points G and F are located beside farmland. The ruins south of point F should be approached through the jungle. After about 60 meters, a swamp will appear. If you are heading for point E, go east away from the swamp and climb the open rock belt. From point A to point D, head south along the river for a while to reach the area with points B to D. To reach point A, follow the stream on the east side of the area and proceed for 500 meters.

This archaeological site is spread over a wide area of 900 meters east-west by 3000 meters north-south. Due to this expansive nature, the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) refers to the ruins around points A to F as the “Padhanagala Ruins.” However, collectively, the entire site will be referred to as the “Nuwaragalkanda archaeological site.” The explored area comprises ruins of approximately 10 buildings, including a temple. Based on the shape of the wedge holes prepared on rocks to be split, it is estimated that this site dates back to around the 8th century. Additionally, the decoration on the earthenware piece found at point F consists of a linear pattern with many narrow grooves, and no designs are seen on the moonstones and guardstones.

Among the investigated building traces, points B to D are situated on small terraces. Slight traces of stairs are observed between points B and D, along with roads extending in the direction of point B from point D, indicating a connection between them. Additionally, near point D, remnants of an artificial pond for bathing can be seen, and numerous traces of a reservoir (Wewa) around the ruins. There are indications of two reservoirs with bisokotuwas found at points A and G. However, the reservoir associated with bisokotuwa G has been entirely engulfed by the jungle.

Bisokotuwa A

The ruins of a Bisokotuwa, belonging to a small reservoir, are present at the site. While the reservoir itself is completely destroyed, it still retains some water, resembling a pond. Parts of the dam can be observed scattered in various places. Approximately 20 meters down the pond, traces of a weir across the stream can be seen on both banks. Large collapsed stones are abundant on the riverbed. These stones vary in thickness but are all vertically long, with the largest measuring 136 x 47 x 45 cm. Estimating from the width of the river swamp and the height of both banks, it can be assumed that the weir was about 5 meters in height and 15 meters in width.

Buildings at Site B

This cluster of buildings lies north of Bisokotuwa A, spread along four terraces. Within this area, there are ruins of five buildings and three stone stairways. The presence of a deep pit in the centre of building B3 indicates that this site has also been subject to destruction by treasure hunters. Near this pit lies a large stone slab measuring 115 x 81 x 18 cm in size. Several more stone slabs are found partially buried at different locations. These slabs are possibly floorboards from the building.

Buildings at Site C

At this location, the remains of three rectangular buildings are observed on the two-tiered terrace. The terrace is constructed by building a retaining wall on the southeast side, below the slope. The southeastern side of the upper terrace is approximately 40 meters long, and it is constructed by stacking three steps of 115 x 20 x 30 cm cut stones from the lower terrace. There is an entrance staircase located in the centre of this upper terrace.

Among the buildings, one is clearly identified as a Bodhighara, with a pit for the Bodhi tree situated at the centre.

Buildings at Site D

The ruins discovered at this location consist of 3 buildings built on a 2 tiered platform. The retaining walls of the platform have been built with blocks of rock. The southeastern side of the upper terrace is about 40 m long, and it is built by stacking three steps of 115 x 20 x 30 cm cut stones from the lower platform and there is an entrance staircase in the centre. The entrance stairs to the upper terrace are composed of 7 stone steps with a width of 140 cm, a width of 28 cm, and a height of 19 cm. The building on the southern side of the entrance is about 10×4 meters in size. The building on the northern side is small, about 4×4 meters in size. There are two stone steps with a width of 110cm, a width of 23cm, and a height of 17cm. The balustrade of this stone staircase and a stone that seems to have been a guard stone were scattered around.

The central building is about 18m x 13m the largest of the three.

E : Terrace on the Naked Rock

On the slope of the open rock belt, a row of stones extends from northeast to southwest in the shape of a retaining wall. At the end of the stone row, shallow holes of about 3 cm, which were dug directly in the ground, were dug 2 x 2 vertically and horizontally at intervals of 50 cm. A large number of stone fragments were piled up in one place above the stone row. It’s unclear what would have been here before the destruction.

F : Stone Pillars

Natural stones are lined up in a row to divide the outer shell of 8 x 8 m, and 16 stone pillars stand inside in the form of 4 x 4 in an orderly manner. The distance between each stone pillar was about 2.5 m, and the largest stone pillar was 175 cm high and 37 x 21 cm in cross-section. The shape is reminiscent of the remains of Uposatha, but it cannot be confirmed. In addition, pottery pieces and iron ore with linear patterns were scattered inside and outside the site.

G : Ruins of a Bisokotuwa

This bisokotuwa is approximately 230 x 350 cm in length and width and approximately 160 cm deep. The stones used are all about 30 to 50 cm wide, but the lengths are different and the longest is 200 cm. The thickness varies from 13 cm to 50 cm. The reservoir to which this bisokotuwa belonged has vanished with time. (Photo 16-35 / 16-36)

References

• Okamura, T., 2015. RUINS IN CENTRAL EASTERN AREA OF SRI LANKA — at the jungle of Amban Ganga Basin and the outskirts —. Tokyo: South Asian

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

• The Ancient Capital of Polonnaruwa
• Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings

Map of Maligathenna ( Nuwaragala Kanda) Ruins

Travel Directions to Nuwaragala Kanda

To reach the Nuwaragala Kanda ruins you need to go past Wewala (වෑවල). Wewala can be reached from Inamaluwa through Sigiriya (B162) or from Dambulla on the Kandalama Road (B615). The motorable road ends after about 2.5 km passing the the Wewala Reservoir. Thereafter you will need to hike about 2 km in to the thick jungle infested with wild animals including elephants to reach the site. Since there is no path, a guide from a nearby town will be required to locate the site.

Distance from Dambulla or Inamaluwa to the site is approx 25 km. Distance from Sigiriya is approx 15 km.

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